New release in the works -- still no Windows Mobile??
After a prolonged absence from LB I checked the website today on a whim. Wow! I thought. A new version in the works! Maybe...? it's finally here...?
I looked... I rubbed my eyes... I looked again... *still* no Windows Mobile version?
According to Gartner, in Q1 2007 Windows devices made up around 62% of all PDAs shipped. PalmOS devices managed 6.1%:
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/23965.php
Why does it make more sense to sink yet more time into Palm versions at the expense of working on the Windows Mobile version, which you have been talking about for almost 3 years?? I just don't understand how this makes any kind of strategic sense.
There are many, many people like me, who now use Windows devices and were disappointed that Life Balance wasn't available. I have a lingering irrational fondness for LB, and would of course re-evaluate Life Balance, and possibly switch back to it, if a Windows Mobile version ever saw the light of day. But I'm beginning to doubt that will ever happen...?
Comments
Windows Mobile... was definitely less important than cancer
Hi there Jason,
Ah. You are obviously unaware that our plans for developing a Windows Mobile version of Life Balance were disrupted by the need for us to provide care for my Aunt who died just about a year ago of recurrent breast cancer. In Life Balance terms... Family first!
You can probably understand that it was not a good time for us to attempt to launch to a new platform.
Now, the technical (and emotional) terrain is much different.
Gartner... well, maybe. The question to always ask is how do they count their numbers for PDAs vs. SmartPhones vs. DumbPhones? Every analyst does it differently.
From my perspective, the strategic question was do we blindly pick up where we left off, or look at the opportunities for us wherever things are now.
In terms of pushing out to a new platform... We do not want to miss the iPhone wave. A lot of people, including us, are excited about iPhone, and people, including us, will be watching the news coming out of Apple WWDC next week. That is the best thing to happen for mobile software developers, including us, in quite some time. Woo hoo!
Windows Mobile may still be more popular in Corporate realm, maybe. But realistically, what difference does that even make to us, if we have so many more individual users than corporate clients? What good is chasing 62 percent of stuff that just doesn't apply to our business? iPhone is certainly popular... enough... in the personal realm for us to pay attention to it... and I think the iPhone plays to our particular strengths.
Does that mean we've junked our Windows Mobile code... NO!
Does it mean that we're junking our Palm users? NO!
Does it mean that we're dropping Windows support because we love Mac more? Well.... that John Hodgman is just too cute.
First and foremost, we are developers,...read that... Software Artists. Who says we have to do what the stinkin' analysts say we ought to do, anyway? We've long since given up on getting rich doing this by any of the analyst's "market projection" numbers... so we may as well do what's fun and interesting to us!
Life Balance is about living well, making good decisions based on doing the right thing, and having fun along the way. That goes for us too!
I'm sorry that we don't have what you personally need right now. But that can (and probably will) change as we all move along this ever changing and winding path. Don't forget that we have an irrational fondness for YOU too! ;-)
So, please do keep in touch with us. Perhaps a little more often, and that way you'll know more about what's up with us.
Be sure to update your email preferences with us too so that you are reliably getting our email notices. I recommend that you sign up for "Newsletter, Special Offers, and everything" list... because you'll learn the most about what's-a-happenin' that way. :-)
Best wishes, and have a wonderful day Jason!
--Catherine--*
Catherine E. White
President
www.llamagraphics.com
Creators of Life Balance software
for Palm OS, Macintosh and Windows.
Windows Mobile release.
I am sorry to say I agree completely with Jason. Our MD is such a fan of the software (as was I) that I was forced to stay on Palm for ages in the hope the version for Windows mobile would be released soon. Well, 2.5 years later, none of us had Palm devices anymore and have now come up with a far inferior method of managing our lifestyles using Outlook and Pocket Informant.
I am very sorry to hear about the loss in your family and completely understand you priority towards family. I am not complaining about not having a Windows mobile version either - I am just pointing out that I am disappointed I no longer have the option to use LB.
I am in Melbourne, Australia. We no longer have CDMA and therefore cannot use the Apple iPhone until they get it in line with more modern technology (they are releasing a 3G version this week so kudos to them) and as usual, basing the decision to purchase an Apple iphone based on technical merit alone (totally disregarding how cool it looks) will always leave you sitting there without a phone. I struggle to fin Palm devices when I walk into a shop - I am not sure if it is a local phenomenon or if this is the case all over the place but they are scarce as hen's teeth.
You have lost a couple of customers in our case but we are eagerly waiting to come back to the fold since there is nothing like LB out there. Trust me, we looked.
iPhone is GSM/GPRS/HSDPA not CDMA
I just wanted to point out that the iPhone is GSM based and not CDMA.
It also looks like Vodafone will be carrying them in Australia.
http://www.apple.com/au/iphone/buy/
BTW, it appears that people were using the original iPhone in Australia but had to "unlock" them to accomplish this.
More iPhone in Australia: http://www.iphoneinaustralia.com/
Regards,
- Mark